Punter is at my mercy! - Harbi

Gambhir also has a bit to say.

Ricky Ponting is at my mercy: Harbhajan SinghFont Size: Peter Lalor | November 13, 2008
Article from: The Australian
INDIA'S sneering Sikh, Harbhajan Singh, has lashed out at Ricky Ponting, claiming he can dismiss him at will and that the Australia captain is not a complete batsman.

At the same time Gautam Gambhir, who is making a bid for the off-spinner's crown as the most ill-disciplined player in world cricket, labelled himself a "gentleman" and said he does not regret the third-Test physical clash with Shane Watson that led to the Indian's one-match ban.

Harbhajan also said that India's brilliant performance at home during the series was inspired by the ugly Sydney Test in January.

His claims that he can get Ponting out at will might be exaggerated, but only slightly as he has always troubled the captain.

Harbhajan has claimed Ponting's scalp 10 times from 12 Tests at an average of 22.3, compared to a career average of 58.8.

"I can get Ponting out any time, I think I can get him even after I come post a six-month lay-off," Harbhajan said. "Ponting had a lot to say about our players and about the way we play our cricket. In fact, it is Ponting who first needs to go and learn to bat against spin bowling.

"He got a hundred in the first Test match in Bangalore but I don't think that is enough, he needs to come back and score some more before he can claim to be a complete batsman."

Harbhajan, who ducked a Test ban from the Sydney Test because of an ICC bungle, said the unfortunate incidents surrounding January's match spurred India on to win at home.

"I think the events in the Sydney Test match really hurt all of us. The things that they accused me of and their overall approach irked us as a team. I can safely say that the events at the Sydney Test inspired us to beat Aussies," Harbhajan said.

Both sides have simmered with resentment since Sydney, both believing the other acted outside the spirit of the game.

Harbhajan's contempt for Ponting has been evident since they first played against each other a decade ago. Then, the teenage off-spinner gave Ponting an expletive-laden send-off after getting his wicket and the Australian responded in kind. Both were fined.

In January last year he was again taunting Ponting when he was asked by a reporter what he had over the batsman. "He hasn't batted long enough against me, so I don't know," Harbhajan said.

Ponting admitted at the time that the Indian appeared to have him worked out. Harbhajan has dismissed Ponting for a duck three times in Test matches.

Gambhir, who was banned for a match for deliberately elbowing Watson in the third Test in New Delhi, offered further proof, if any was needed, that Australia and India play cricket in parallel universes. Or, at the least, with widely varying judgments as to what is acceptable and unacceptable on the field to both sides.

"No gentleman can hear things that Aussies were saying in Delhi," he told the local media. "If what I did was wrong, then even sledging should be stopped, it has no place in the game."

Watson was fined 10 per cent of his match fee for verbally engaging Gambhir before he was elbowed.

"Aussies sledge from all corners, they sledged at me in Bangalore, Mohali and then in Delhi," Gambhir said. "I could have taken (their sledging) only to a point but they tend to get personal which is just not on. I agree that I shouldn't have crossed a certain line but people should take the holistic view rather than blaming just me for the episode. Frankly, I don't regret the Watson episode."

The Indian side has regularly complained about Australian sledging but has not exactly been Marcel Marceau themselves. Harbhajan claimed he had not called Andrew Symonds a monkey in Sydney, but instead had used an obscene local expression that apparently involves sex and mothers.

The issue has gone on for some time between the sides, but the different approaches to cricket have often caused problems. In 1980-81, Sunil Gavaskar attempted to lead his batting partner off the field in a Melbourne Test after he was verbally abused.

Gambhir was one of India's star batsmen in the series, scoring two centuries. Despite missing the fourth Test, his 463 runs was the highest by any batsman in the series and his opening efforts went a long way to helping India win two-nil.

One of Harbhajan's old sparring partners, Matthew Hayden, came out and backed his embattled captain yesterday when asked about the fourth Test and the over-rate controversy.

"I think we all know that Ricky Ponting is an absolute bloody champion, and he has won right across the globe for the entire reign of his captaincy," Hayden said.

"I, as one of his senior players, completely endorse where he's at as an individual and as a captain."

>>> The issue has gone on for some time between the sides, but the different approaches to cricket have often caused problems. In 1980-81, Sunil Gavaskar attempted to lead his batting partner off the field in a Melbourne Test after he was verbally abused. <<<


'you're out' = verbal abuse

sunny never has come to terms with the total inability of India to regularly win series outside the subi

Great, another thread about Ponting.

nah...it is just the subis crowing over winning a home series...same old story for 50 years...they are only to be treated seriously when competitive outside their own turf

By their very nature, the Indian wins at home have always undermined their ability to win away, so it's business as usual.

precisely

horace wrote:nah...it is just the subis crowing over winning a home series...same old story for 50 years...they are only to be treated seriously when competitive outside their own turf

like a victory at Perth ?

Occasional overseas match wins are encouraging. Regular overseas series wins show optimal preparedness. Universal wins at home and overseas are the stuff of fantasy.

Yep, and they are going to win even less home and away once Tendy, laxman and Dravid follow Violet and the little bastard into the great cricketing curry shop in the sky . . . .

Harbi isn't too far away from the truth. If you add Ishant Sharma to the mix, Punter is most definitely their bunny.
I quite believe Gambhir when he says personal insults are on the daily scorecards of the Aussies. That's OK too, but when they are paid back in the same coin (Symonds-Harbhajan or Sarwan-McGrath are a few from many that come to mind), they're the first to run to the referee or complain.
The Aussies have found their match, even if its on a different platform. One man's chalk is another man's cheese. To quote the advice you guys keep giving others; get on with it and stop trying to sell books by rewinding stale news.

jim rich wrote:Harbi isn't too far away from the truth. If you add Ishant Sharma to the mix, Punter is most definitely their bunny.
I quite believe Gambhir when he says personal insults are on the daily scorecards of the Aussies. That's OK too, but when they are paid back in the same coin (Symonds-Harbhajan or Sarwan-McGrath are a few from many that come to mind), they're the first to run to the referee or complain.
The Aussies have found their match, even if its on a different platform. One man's chalk is another man's cheese. To quote the advice you guys keep giving others; get on with it and stop trying to sell books by rewinding stale news.

jim rich wrote:Harbi isn't too far away from the truth. If you add Ishant Sharma to the mix, Punter is most definitely their bunny.
I quite believe Gambhir when he says personal insults are on the daily scorecards of the Aussies. That's OK too, but when they are paid back in the same coin (Symonds-Harbhajan or Sarwan-McGrath are a few from many that come to mind), they're the first to run to the referee or complain.
The Aussies have found their match, even if its on a different platform. One man's chalk is another man's cheese. To quote the advice you guys keep giving others; get on with it and stop trying to sell books by rewinding stale news.

Very well said.

The Aussies are really seething. The OWL really knows how to wind people up.

It's time the turnbanned tw*t eased back on his mouthing off.
The series was won. Job done. There's absolutely no need to continue the tirade ...
The next confrontation isn't for a few years yet, by which time he might just be a washed up jerk himself.

Anyway, we don't want the Aussies too wound up ahead of next June!